St. Boniface
Location
Murray Street, Nuriootpa
Gallery
History
Foundation Stone was laid in April 1904 and dedicated on 6th October 1904 by Bishop Harmer and services were held monthly by various priests over the next few years.
See photos – https://collections.slsa.sa.gov.au/resource/SRG+94/A12
On 1st November 1936 the foundation stone for a Baptistry, Porch and Vestry was laid by Archdeacon R.W. Walker and dedicated by Bishop A. Nutter on 20th December 1936.
The Church and Hall has survived all these years and now holds two services every week.
St Boniface was born in 680 AD into a Saxon family at Crediton, Devon UK. This name was given to him many years later by Pope Gregory 11.
As a boy, Winfrith wanted to be a missionary in Europe so entered a Benedictine Monastery in Exeter to study, then to a monastery at Nursling near Southampton and eventually ordained as a priest at the age of 30. He declined the offer to be Abbott and left for Friesia (Holland) to start his missionary work which was a failure and returned to Southampton.
Within 2 years he left England for ministry in Germany. He eventually succeeded in his ministry in Germany and became the first Bishop of Mainz.
He returned to Friesia (Holland) in his 70’sz, the scene of his earlier failure. He then spent 2 years destroying idols and baptising converts. On 5th June 755 AD, he was attacked and killed. He was buried in his beloved Abbey at Fulda, Germany.